— Australia —

Wine for the weekend: Tempestuous Tempranillo

Alissa Jenkins and the Australian Traveller magazine team take on the tempestuous Australian Tempranillo.

AUDREY WILKINSON TEMPRANILLO, 2011

It appears you can teach an old dog new tricks, with one of the Hunter Valley’s oldest wineries producing one of the newer wine varieties in Australia. Audrey’s take on this Spanish drop is rich violet in colour, with an earthy, undergrowth aroma. Mulberry flavours shine through on the palate, balanced by lean acidity to make a good medium-bodied red. $20, audreywilkinson.com.au

MAYFORD WINES TEMPRANILLO, 2010

This deep purple Victorian tempranillo has a strong perfume of black cherry and spices and a smoky, tobacco tang. It coats the mouth with ultra-smooth flavours of berries, spice and a hint of mint at the end. The palate is long, the tannins fine and overall it’s a very smart, well-balanced drop. $38, mayfordwines.com

Former chef, now distiller, Rachel Reed is one half of the duo behind Reed & Co. Dist...
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LA LINEA TEMPRANILLO, 2011

Red cherry in colour, La Linea’s latest tempranillo has an earthy, almost oaky scent, with a hint of blackcurrant. In comparison to the previous two reds, it is lighter and has a shorter palate, but offers more assertive tannins and richer, darker fruit characters. $27, lalinea.com.au